Polite Seattle ‘rioters’ crowdfund for pergola damage

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m., Feb. 4 | The crowdfunding for the pergola repair says it has reached its goal because the Western Washington Honda Dealers say they’ll contribute $10,000.

With the $16,046 from the crowdfunding that was reached by 4:30, that will meet the initial repair estimate by Seattle Parks of $25,000.

The repair money will be dispersed by the Seattle Parks Foundation. It says any money leftover will be used to clean up and repair parks around CenturyLink Field.

UPDATE: 3 p.m., Feb 4 | More than halfway to goal: At 3 p.m. total was up to $13,869.

Amanda Gallagher Quinn, the woman who started the account, says she felt bad after hearing that the Pioneer Square pergola was damaged in the Super Bowl celebration.

“I thought, ‘hey, we’re better than that as a city’ and if given the opportunity, people would step up and pay for the damage,” she said.

This was Quinn’s first time doing something with crowdfunding, but she has several friends who work with non-profits and had “good advisers.”

UPDATE: 11 a.m., Feb 4 | Amidst the fun of the #HowSeattleRiots hashtag on Twitter, Seahawks fan Amanda Gallagher Quinn decided to start a crowdfunding account (www.gofundme.com/6ni2ic) to help pay for the damage to the Pioneer Square pergola.

Many fans are donating $12 in honor of the 12th Man, and as of 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, the fund was nearing $3,000 with a goal of $25,000.

According to the site, Lee Warnecke, development manager of the Seattle Parks Foundation, is “very pleased that every penny of this campaign will go directly to the foundation. We are creating a memorandum of understanding with the Seattle Parks Foundation that will ensure the funds will be dedicated to repairing the Pergola.”

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The Today File is a general news blog featuring real-time coverage of Seattle and the Northwest. It is reported by the news staff of The Seattle Times and includes stories from The Associated Press and McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.